After defeating Ragune-chan and the others, we returned to our home.
Maria, who had been doing laundry and cleaning, noticed our return and gave us a troubled look.
“Welcome back, Master, Rustiara-san. You’re back early. I haven’t prepared dinner yet…”
It seemed we had returned earlier than scheduled, so dinner wasn’t ready yet.
We had some free time. I was about to go visit Dia while shopping, but Rustiara stopped me.
“Then, Christ, let’s go to the festival.”
Rustiara, who had been sitting in the living room chair, invited me.
“Festival?”
“Yes. Fuziaze is in the middle of a festival right now. In four days, there’s the Christmas festival, which happens once a year, but… for a week leading up to it, the entire country is celebrating.”
“Ah, I think I’ve heard of it.”
I recall Dia mentioning it. She had said that her discharge would be around the Christmas festival, and we had promised to have fun that day.
“This is my first time participating in a festival, so I’m really curious!”
“I’m not exactly uninterested either.”
Festivals from different cultures were indeed intriguing.
Besides, I had little experience with festivals even in my previous world. I couldn’t go even if I wanted to.
That’s why events like festivals were so appealing to me.
“All right, it’s decided. Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Yeah. I need to go buy water anyway.”
I agreed.
It might be a meaningless event, but it would be a good change of pace for our excess time. The only thing I needed to do right now was to get more water.
As I agreed lightly, Maria, who had started preparing dinner, spoke up.
“W-Wait. Is that, the so-called—”
However, her voice trailed off.
I looked at Maria and thought I saw a fleeting expression of regret. But she quickly composed herself and fell silent.
Did she perhaps think we were leaving her behind?
Rustiara merely held back laughter and didn’t join the conversation.
Having no choice, I spoke up.
“Maria, you come with us too. Get ready.”
“…Huh? I can go too?”
“Of course.”
If I didn’t invite her now, we couldn’t be called friends or companions. For me, it was only natural, but it seemed Maria didn’t see it that way.
“But, dinner preparations—”
“Let’s eat out today. Together.”
“Y-Yes…”
I forcefully persuaded Maria.
Then, I approached her, took her hand, and tried to lead her outside.
“Shall we go? Rustiara, please guide us.”
“Fufu. Okay.”
Rustiara grinned and slowly stood up.
It was good that she seemed to be enjoying herself, but she was troublesome. She had intended to bring Maria along from the start, but she hadn’t said so. For her own amusement, she made me invite Maria.
“Stop laughing and hurry up and guide us.”
Tapping Rustiara’s head as she laughed ahead, we left the house.
Fuziaze wasn’t far from my house. Being close to the labyrinth in the center of the Allied Nations meant we were also close to other countries.
After walking for about an hour, we could already feel the festive atmosphere. It was clear that Fuziaze was celebrating with the whole country. Even at the edge of the country, the fervor was tremendous.
As we entered the town’s main street, many stalls lined the way.
The shopkeepers were shouting loudly, trying to attract customers. Some sold food, while others sold small items, covering a wide variety of genres.
I was drawn to the food culture and observed the food on display.
There were simple snacks similar to those in my world, but also many dishes I had never seen before. Furthermore, the cooking utensils were all unfamiliar. Seeing the heat sources that used magic stones unique to this world, and knives that likely operated with magic, I truly felt like I was in a festival in another world.
Unidentified grilled items.
A platter of oddly shaped nuts.
Skewers of meat cooked in a peculiar way.
Giant bread that probably wasn’t suitable for eating on the go.
Naturally, everything was new and exciting.
Faced with foods whose flavors I couldn’t imagine, I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“Master, you’re looking around the stalls too much…”
Maria cautioned me, seeing me acting so restless, like a country bumpkin.
“N-No, it’s just a little unusual…”
“Aren’t the Christmas festival celebrations held everywhere every year? The stalls are all typical ones…”
Apparently, the sights were commonplace for Maria.
Even in front of this scene, she didn’t seem to feel anything special.
But for me, it was different.
When it came to a festival with completely different cultural norms, everything was a novelty. Maria didn’t know my circumstances, so she couldn’t understand what was so interesting.
“No, my hometown didn’t have festivals like this, so it’s really fresh.”
“Huh? Master, aren’t you from Fania?”
“Ah, yes. I lived in the outskirts of Fania, so there were no festivals. That’s why this is my first festival.”
“The outskirts…?”
Maria repeated my words.
She didn’t seem convinced, but the more I talked about my hometown, the more my lie unraveled. Pretending to be busy enjoying the festival atmosphere, I drifted away from Maria.
As I observed my surroundings, I passed by a group in disguise.
They were clad in beast fur and wore animal headdresses. They were likely imitating wolves and bears. Perhaps dressing up like this held some significance during this festival.
I turned to Rustiara, who I presumed knew a lot about Fuziaze.
“Hey, Rustiara. What’s the meaning behind these costumes?”
Rustiara, who had been leading the way, turned back to me and replied with excitement.
“I don’t know!”
“Huh? You don’t know?”
“Yeah. I told you it was my first time, right?”
Rustiara’s voice was lively as she scanned her surroundings, just like me. Maria, upon hearing this, looked on with disbelief.
“Is this really your first time?”
“Shamefully, yes. Due to various circumstances, today is my first time visiting the town during the festival. So, Maria, you’re the only experienced one here.”
“I-It’s impossible… Two people who haven’t participated in the festival…”
“That’s why I’m curious about those costumes just now. Tell me, Maria!”
Rustiara stopped leading and moved next to Maria. As the three of us walked side-by-side, we listened to Maria’s explanation.
“Those costumes are worn in prayer for good health and freedom from illness. The origin is a myth passed down on the continent. By dressing as the companions of Saint Tiara Fuziaze, who appears in the myth, they are wishing for the saint’s protection. It’s said that the closer it gets to her birthday, the more the saint’s power returns to the continent, which is why many people spend the festival period in costume.”
“Ahhh, right, right. Now that you mention it, I think I remember that.”
Rustiara snapped her fingers, as if recalling it, upon hearing Maria’s explanation.
“Speaking of which, Rustiara’s name sounds similar to the saint’s name. Did your parents give you that name to wish for the saint’s protection?”
“Oh, you’re sharp, Maria. That’s exactly right.”
“What an auspicious name.”
Rustiara agreed nonchalantly, and Maria chuckled softly.
However, I couldn’t laugh. Maria didn’t know, but I knew Rustiara’s surname was “Fuziaze.” Therefore, I couldn’t help but suspect there was some hidden reason.
We walked through the town of Fuziaze while listening to Maria’s explanation.
The festival was most lively in the town center, so our feet naturally gravitated there. It was around the 50th block.
“Alright, Maria! Let’s go buy some snacks!”
“No, thank you. Festival food is overpriced and a waste.”
“—! B-But, if we don’t eat, what’s the point of coming here?”
“I’m fine just watching.”
“Ehhhh…”
Maria’s point was indeed valid.
Even I, who wasn’t familiar with the market prices in this world, could tell that the items lined up at the stalls were overpriced. To Maria, who was accustomed to festivals, the things here were merely expensive with no added value.
Seeing Rustiara looking dejected, I offered a helping hand.
“Give up, Rustiara. I’ll go with you.”
“I guess I have no choice… Christ will have to do.”
Rustiara seemed to have wanted to play with Maria more than me. She reluctantly agreed, looking disheartened.
For now, we decided to walk towards the center of the festival, buying snacks along the way.
However, somewhere along the line, it devolved into a game of trying to get Maria, who was being so reserved, to buy and eat something.
A little less than an hour later, Rustiara and I were in high spirits.
At first, I tried to maintain a cool demeanor, but there were so many unusual things that I couldn’t suppress my excitement. Rustiara reacted similarly to me, so we ended up getting carried away together.
“That’s a children’s game, you know?”
Behind us, the cool Maria watched us with pity.
But I had grown accustomed to Maria’s cold gaze and didn’t pay it any mind, continuing to revel.
We continued on, snacking along the way, and finally reached the grand plaza in the center of town. Not only were there shops selling goods, but there were also attractions similar to amusement park rides.
However, they weren’t the luxurious modern kind, but simple games like shooting galleries and shape-cutting.
Still, it was more than enough to excite me.
I had no experience playing such games in my previous world. Furthermore, there were types of games that likely didn’t exist in modern times, so my interest only grew.
Right now, I was very intrigued by the other world’s shooting gallery.
It seemed to be a game where one used arrows with cloth tips instead of arrowheads to shoot at animals running around within a fence. The cloth was coated with paint, and if one hit an animal, it would determine if it was successfully hunted. In my world, a game like this wouldn’t be possible due to safety concerns and animal welfare considerations.
The animals ran nimbly within the enclosure.
Their agile movements made me wonder if they were monsters rather than just animals, but with my limited knowledge, I couldn’t be sure.
The prizes weren’t anything special, but looking at the targets, which wouldn’t be easy to hit, my body tingled with anticipation.
However, as Maria said, the adults weren’t lining up to play this game. That said, children around my age were playing it without issue.
In short, the problem is that both Rustiara and I are taller than average, making us look like adults.
To avoid drawing attention, I suggest Maria go first. That way, I can participate more naturally.
“Aren’t you a child, Maria? Why don’t you go first? Then we can join in a bit more naturally.”
“W-What! I’m not a child! I’m already thirteen!”
I thought she might comment on my cowardly thought, but instead, Maria took issue with being called a child. She seemed rather upset about being treated like a child.
Still, it’s surprising that Maria is thirteen. She’s older than I thought.
However, thirteen is still within the range of a child for me. I don’t consider myself an adult, and it’s natural that I can’t think of someone younger than me as an adult.
—But that’s just an extension of my world’s values.
So, I check with Rustiara.
“Rustiara, is thirteen an adult here?”
“Hmm, they treat you as a full-fledged person here.”
“I see…”
Confirming that the age of adulthood is lower in this world, I offer a light apology to Maria. Then, as if struck by an idea, Maria poses a question.
“Speaking of which, how old are you two?”
My age.
Depending on the accuracy of the translation, there shouldn’t be a significant difference in the calendar between worlds so far. I should be able to answer with the age counted in my world.
“I’m sixteen, I think.”
“Sixteen!?”
Maria was surprised to hear my age.
Although I’m tall, my face is youthful for my age, so this is the first time I’ve been this surprised.
“Is it that strange?”
“No, I thought you were around twenty. You’re tall, and your demeanor is gentle…”
It seems Maria thought I was much older. However, the reason being my demeanor was unexpected. Next, Rustiara answers.
“I’m sixteen too. Officially.”
“What!?”
Maria cried out in surprise again.
While not as tall as me, Rustiara is also on the taller side. Furthermore, she has a figure that belies her age, making her look older than average. Maria must have thought Rustiara was even older.
“Huh? Is it that surprising?”
Rustiara looks at me, a puzzled expression on her face.
I smile faintly and shake my head. I’m not that surprised.
But Maria still seems unable to suppress her astonishment.
“Just a three-year difference, and… y-you look so different… your height, your chest…”
Her body trembles, and she compares her own physique to Rustiara’s.
Indeed, it’s hard to believe it’s only a three-year difference. That’s how much difference there is in their development.
As I look at Maria with pity, she notices my gaze, pulls herself together, and calls our attention.
“Well, whatever about our ages! You two look like proper adults, so if you keep acting like this, you’ll be laughed at!”
It all comes down to that.
If you look older, your true age doesn’t matter.
“You don’t have to worry too much…”
“Can’t you feel these warm, pitying glances! It’s embarrassing!!”
Certainly, there are eyes watching us, who are causing a commotion, with amusement. However, it’s the gaze of people enjoying a festival, not pitying a poor soul. Besides, I think more eyes are captivated by Rustiara’s beauty.
Rustiara’s presence alone draws people in.
Her appearance doesn’t allow her to blend into a crowd. Because of this, there are many envious glances directed at me, her companion. I initially wanted to play without drawing attention, but this made me give up early.
“Fufu. Maria-chan, when you get embarrassed, it makes me more excited. Maria-chan, did you really think I would stop for something like that?”
Admiring the embarrassed Maria, Rustiara strides confidently towards the ring toss game booth.
Maria tried to stop her, but the more she tried to stop her, the happier Rustiara seemed. In the end, Maria gave up.
Soon after, Rustiara received a bow and arrows from the man at the booth, and the game began.
The game was to see how many animals in the field one could shoot from a certain position. Apparently, prizes were awarded based on the number of animals hit within the time limit.
Rustiara nocked an arrow onto the bow and shot each one carefully. Each shot was fluid and perfectly accurate, a divine skill like that of an archer in a heroic tale.
When someone as beautiful as Rustiara performs such a feat, it’s inevitable that she attracts attention. At first, children gathered, amazed and curious, watching the challenger hit animal after animal. Then the surrounding adults were drawn in, captivated by her presence.
By the time the hourglass indicating the end of the time limit ran out, most of the birds and beasts released into the field had been shot.
As soon as it ended, children watching nearby started shouting “Amazing, amazing,” and adults watching from a distance applauded Rustiara.
“Hah— This is surprisingly fun.”
Rustiara murmured contentedly, twirled the bow like a dance, and finally struck a pose to acknowledge the gallery.
And so, Rustiara walked through the applause and received her prize from the reluctant man at the booth. However, understanding that she was unusual, she chose a cute necklace that could be obtained even with a low score, rather than an expensive prize.
Although most of it was made of wood, it was decorated with a single magic stone in the center, making it neither too cheap nor too extravagant.
After receiving the necklace, Rustiara walked over and placed it around Maria’s neck.
“This is a present from me, Maria-chan.”
“Ah, um. Thank you…”
Maria thanked her softly, and the people around them watched with amusement.
I see.
By presenting it as a gift to a child named Maria, Rustiara seemed to have dispelled her childishness. That way, she might not feel embarrassed.
Challenging this situation would draw attention. However, since Rustiara had already attracted so much attention, it was unavoidable that we would stand out too.
If that’s the case, I decided to do what I wanted—
“Alright, then I can’t be outdone either. For Maria’s present, I guess I’ll have to show off my skills.”
In reality, I just wanted to do it myself, but I said it loud enough to be heard by the people around me as an excuse.
“Ah, no. It’s not really necessary—”
“Well then, let’s do this!”
Without letting Maria finish her refusal, I walked towards the counter. Seeing Rustiara, I became unable to resist the urge to try it myself.
To play after witnessing that divine skill just before required considerable courage, so the counter was empty.
I received a bow and arrows, and after the targets were cleaned, the game began.
“—Magic 《Dimension – Decisive Calculation》.”
I deployed the magic without being noticed.
Only someone with exceptional skill would be able to notice the magic, but Rustiara, who was exceptionally skilled, noticed my magic and burst out laughing, unable to contain herself.
I couldn’t hit the targets as beautifully as Rustiara, so I focused on surpassing her previous score. However, as I had no experience with a bow, I missed the first few shots. Even with the benefits of magic and dexterity, it seemed I couldn’t match Rustiara.
However, after a few adjustments, I got used to it.
My superhuman sensory organs and dexterity made my aim accurate. Mimicking Rustiara’s previous performance, I continued to release arrows relying on my status.
And perhaps thanks to expending my MP and giving it my all, I managed to slightly surpass Rustiara’s previous score.
The people watching around me cheered, and the atmosphere here became even warmer.
I went to receive the prize, and I hesitated in my choice. Anything I could give to Maria would be fine, but if it was an accessory, there weren’t many choices. Reluctantly, I accepted a bracelet similar to the necklace Rustiara had received earlier.
Then, I walked towards Maria and handed it to her.
“Here, Maria.”
“How childish…”
Maria accepted it with an exasperated expression and immediately turned her back, trying to leave the area.
She probably wanted to avoid attracting more attention. It might also be that she simply didn’t fit in with the noisy atmosphere.
“W-wait, Maria-chan. I want to beat Christ’s score, so let me do it one more time!”
From behind, Rustiara showed a surprisingly competitive streak.
However, Maria ignored her and walked away. Sensing that this could turn into a messy fight, I nudged Rustiara.
“Come on, Rustiara. Let’s go.”
“Ehh, running away after winning…”
Rustiara reluctantly began to move away from the spot.
We ran through the curious eyes of the crowd, trying not to lose sight of Maria, who was trying to blend into the throng.
By the time we caught up to Maria, no one was paying attention to us anymore. Although we had attracted a lot of attention, it was just one of the many disturbances at a festival with numerous events. Once we blended into the crowd, no one looked at us except to admire Rustiara.
Rustiara called out to Maria, who was walking ahead.
“Aren’t you going to try, Maria-chan? If you’re worried about the money, I’ll pay. I’m the one who invited you.”
“…Hmph. There’s no way I can do that after that, is there? I’m fine, I’ve done it when I was younger.”
“Ah, you’ve done it before. In that case, I guess it’s fine.”
Saying so, Rustiara started walking in front of Maria.
Her gaze darted about, searching for interesting things as she pushed through the festival crowds.
After walking a certain distance, we reached the riverbank. A particularly large crowd had gathered there, and some kind of event seemed to be taking place.
Upon spotting it, Rustiara excitedly pulled my hand.
“Something’s happening by the river!”
“It looks like they’re doing something that can only be done near water.”
I was reminded of goldfish scooping from my original world and followed Rustiara with anticipation.
To avoid getting separated, I grabbed Maria’s hand with the one not held by Rustiara. Then, the three of us walked to the stall by the river.
Nets were set up upstream and downstream of the river, and a large number of fish were released into the space between them. The river was only about knee-deep for an adult, and many people were desperately trying to catch fish with their bare hands.
“Is this a ‘catch as much as you can, eat as much as you can’ fish-grabbing game…?”
I had seen things like this in my world, so it was a little disappointing.
But Rustiara’s eyes sparkled, and she looked eager to try.
“I’ll do it! I won’t lose to Christ next time!”
She also seemed to want to compete with me. Apparently, the previous loss had hit her hard.
“I have no choice. If I don’t participate, Rustiara won’t have anyone to push her, will she?”
Even though it was a game I had seen before, I had never actually played it. It was undeniably interesting, and I had no reason to refuse.
We got in line to wait for our turn and started making small talk. We killed time by chatting about fish dishes with Maria and asking Rustiara what she wanted to eat—and then, when we were halfway through the line, a voice called out from behind us.
“—Huh? Isn’t that Christ and Maria-chan?”
A girl wearing a beast mask on the side of her head spotted us and approached. It was Arti, the Guardian of the Labyrinth, who wore many layers of clothing.
I increased my vigilance slightly and looked around. Once I confirmed that Arti was alone, I let out a sigh of relief and raised my hand in response. Maria also bowed politely.
“Arti. Why are you here?”
“Why? Is it bad for me to be playing?”
“No, it’s not bad, but…”
It wasn’t bad, but seeing the Boss Monster of the Labyrinth wandering around made my heart race.
“I was just playing with my friends from Eltralyu Academy. Don’t worry, Fran-chan, who you dislike, isn’t here right now.”
“That’s a relief.”
As Arti and I were talking, Rustiara, standing behind us, started to laugh. Then, she joyfully came over to us.
“Pfft, you surprised me so much. I thought you were quite capable for someone so cute, and when I looked at you with my ‘God-Impersonating Eyes,’ it was an absolute— *fufufufu*”
Rustiara’s cheerful demeanor from earlier vanished, and she began to emanate a clinging fighting spirit. She had probably seen that Arti was not human and was a Boss Monster with considerable power.
I stepped between Arti and Rustiara to explain.
“Wait, Rustiara. She’s my collaborator. Absolutely—”
“It’s okay. From what I can see, I understand that’s not the vibe you’re giving off. Um, is it okay to call you Arti-chan? I’m Rustiara, nice to meet you.”
Rustiara interrupted me and greeted Arti.
“Hoh. So you’re the one… I see. I think we can get along well. However, could you please stop using “-chan”? I’d prefer if we could call each other by our names.”
“Understood, Arti.”
“Indeed. Please take care of me, Rustiara.”
The two shook hands and smiled at each other amicably. I watched them with trepidation. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if a battle to the death started right there. In that case, I’d just take Maria and escape using the magic “Connection.”
As if noticing how I was looking at them, Arti turned to me with a laugh.
“You’re such a worrier, Christ.”
“I’m just being normal. So, what are you doing from now on, Arti?”
“Let’s see. Maybe I’ll play with you all for a bit? I can’t stay for long, though.”
“Well, playing for a bit might be… ”
I really wanted her to go somewhere else, but treating her poorly here would be too heartless for a collaborator. Reluctantly, I allowed her to accompany us.
Hearing this, Rustiara became even happier.
“Great! Then, Arti, Christ, and I will race! I want to see Arti-chan’s abilities too.”
She seemed excited to be able to compete with Arti, the Guardian of the Labyrinth. However, Arti declined with a wry smile.
“I’ll have to pass on that. I’m not good with water, so I’ll just cheer you on with Maria-chan.”
With that, Arti declined to participate. As expected, Arti, a fire monster, seemed to be weak against water. She stepped back and started talking with Maria.
After that, it was our turn, so it became a contest between me and Rustiara alone. I devised a strategy to win against Rustiara with all my might. I knew that was what Rustiara wanted. After all, Rustiara’s desire has always been to be able to play wholeheartedly. Because she knows she can do that with me, she stays by my side.
I have an obligation to entertain Rustiara. That’s the “Contract” we made. This is probably one of Rustiara’s dreams, her desire to “enjoy adventures.” I could vaguely sense it from Rustiara’s behavior.
However, it’s not entirely out of obligation. Deep down, I probably “want to enjoy adventures” in this Another World as well. Accompanying Rustiara isn’t exactly painful. If I can secure Rustiara as a fighting force while having fun, I have no complaints.
I deployed all my Dimensional Magic to win the game.
As a result, the competition escalated to a level that made the surrounding customers recoil and the shopkeeper turn pale—and in the end, we were stopped by Arti’s intervention, and I had to endure a lengthy lecture from Maria.
Even so, Rustiara looked happy. I also had a moderate amount of fun. And, as long as the Labyrinth wasn’t involved, we got along quite well, which I found to be a bit of a shame.
